Of course I did, said Leonidas reproachfully. Did you think I was going to let her get bit? It might have killed her.
And it might not have been an unmixed pleasure for William Henry. I mean, said Mr. Hamlin gravely, correcting himself, YOU would never have forgiven him. But what did she say?
The boys face clouded. She thanked me and said it was very thoughtfuland kindthough it might have been only an accidenthe stammeredand then she said perhaps I was hanging round and coming there a little too much lately, and that as Burroughs was very watchful, Id better quit for two or three days. The tears were rising to his eyes, but by putting his two clenched fists into his pockets, he managed to hold them down. Perhaps Mr. Hamlins soft hand on his head assisted him. Mr. Hamlin took from his pocket a notebook, and tearing out a leaf, sat down again and began to write on his knee. After a pause, Leonidas said,
Was you ever in love, Mr. Hamlin?
Never, said Mr. Hamlin, quietly continuing to write. But, now you speak of it, its a long-felt want in my nature that I intend to supply some day. But not until Ive made my pile. And dont YOU either. He continued writing, for it was this gentlemans peculiarity to talk without apparently the slightest concern whether anybody else spoke, whether he was listened to, or whether his remarks were at all relevant to the case. Yet he was always listened to for that reason. When he had finished writing, he folded up the paper, put it in an envelope, and addressed it.
Shall I take it to her? said Leonidas eagerly.
Its not for HER; its for himMr. Burroughs, said Mr. Hamlin quietly.
The boy drew back. To get him out of the way, added Hamlin explanatorily. When he gets it, lightning wouldnt keep him here. Now, how to send it, he said thoughtfully.
You might leave it at the post-office, said Leonidas timidly. He always goes there to watch his wifes letters.
For the first time in their interview Mr. Hamlin distinctly laughed.
Your head is level, Leo, and Ill do it. Now the best thing you can do is to follow Mrs. Burroughss advice. Quit going to the house for a day or two. He walked towards his horse. The boys face sank, but he kept up bravely. And will I see you again? he said wistfully.
Mr. Hamlin lowered his face so near the boys that Leonidas could see himself in the brown depths of Mr. Hamlins eyes. I hope you will, he said gravely. He mounted, shook the boys hand, and rode away in the lengthening shadows. Then Leonidas walked sadly home.
There was no need for him to keep his promise; for the next morning the family were stirred by the announcement that Mr. and Mrs. Burroughs had left Casket Ridge that night by the down stage for Sacramento, and that the house was closed. There were various rumors concerning the reason of this sudden departure, but only one was persistent, and borne out by the postmaster. It was that Mr. Burroughs had received that afternoon an anonymous note that his wife was about to elope with the notorious San Francisco gambler, Jack Hamlin.
But Leonidas Boone, albeit half understanding, kept his miserable secret with a still hopeful and trustful heart. It grieved him a little that William Henry was found a few days later dead, with his head crushed. Yet it was not until years later, when he had made a successful prospect on Casket Ridge, that he met Mr. Hamlin in San Francisco, and knew how he had played the part of Mercury upon that heaven-kissing hill.
COLONEL STARBOTTLE FOR THE PLAINTIFF
It had been a day of triumph for Colonel Starbottle. First, for his personality, as it would have been difficult to separate the Colonels achievements from his individuality; second, for his oratorical abilities as a sympathetic pleader; and third, for his functions as the leading legal counsel for the Eureka Ditch Company versus the State of California. On his strictly legal performances in this issue I prefer not to speak; there were those who denied them, although the jury had accepted them in the face of the ruling of the half amused, half cynical Judge himself. For an hour they had laughed with the Colonel, wept with him, been stirred to personal indignation or patriotic exaltation by his passionate and lofty periods,what else could they do than give him their verdict? If it was alleged by some that the American eagle, Thomas Jefferson, and the Resolutions of 98 had nothing whatever to do with the contest of a ditch company over a doubtfully worded legislative document; that wholesale abuse of the State Attorney and his political motives had not the slightest connection with the legal question raisedit was, nevertheless, generally accepted that the losing party would have been only too glad to have the Colonel on their side. And Colonel Starbottle knew this, as, perspiring, florid, and panting, he rebuttoned the lower buttons of his blue frock-coat, which had become loosed in an oratorical spasm, and readjusted his old-fashioned, spotless shirt frill above it as he strutted from the court-room amidst the handshakings and acclamations of his friends.
And here an unprecedented thing occurred. The Colonel absolutely declined spirituous refreshment at the neighboring Palmetto Saloon, and declared his intention of proceeding directly to his office in the adjoining square. Nevertheless, the Colonel quitted the building alone, and apparently unarmed, except for his faithful gold-headed stick, which hung as usual from his forearm. The crowd gazed after him with undisguised admiration of this new evidence of his pluck. It was remembered also that a mysterious note had been handed to him at the conclusion of his speech,evidently a challenge from the State Attorney. It was quite plain that the Colonela practiced duelistwas hastening home to answer it.
But herein they were wrong. The note was in a female hand, and simply requested the Colonel to accord an interview with the writer at the Colonels office as soon as he left the court. But it was an engagement that the Colonelas devoted to the fair sex as he was to the codewas no less prompt in accepting. He flicked away the dust from his spotless white trousers and varnished boots with his handkerchief, and settled his black cravat under his Byron collar as he neared his office. He was surprised, however, on opening the door of his private office, to find his visitor already there; he was still more startled to find her somewhat past middle age and plainly attired. But the Colonel was brought up in a school of Southern politeness, already antique in the republic, and his bow of courtesy belonged to the epoch of his shirt frill and strapped trousers. No one could have detected his disappointment in his manner, albeit his sentences were short and incomplete. But the Colonels colloquial speech was apt to be fragmentary incoherencies of his larger oratorical utterances.
A thousand pardonsforerhaving kept a lady waitinger! Butercongratulations of friendsandercourtesy due to themerinterfered withthough perhaps only heightenedby procrastinationthe pleasure ofha! And the Colonel completed his sentence with a gallant wave of his fat but white and well-kept hand.
Yes! I came to see you along o that speech of yours. I was in court. When I heard you gettin it off on that jury, I says to myself, Thats the kind o lawyer I want. A man thats flowery and convincin! Just the man to take up our case.
Ah! Its a matter of business, I see, said the Colonel, inwardly relieved, but externally careless. Andermay I ask the nature of the case?
Ah! Its a matter of business, I see, said the Colonel, inwardly relieved, but externally careless. Andermay I ask the nature of the case?
Well! its a breach-o-promise suit, said the visitor calmly.
If the Colonel had been surprised before, he was now really startled, and with an added horror that required all his politeness to conceal. Breach-of-promise cases were his peculiar aversion. He had always held them to be a kind of litigation which could have been obviated by the prompt killing of the masculine offenderin which case he would have gladly defended the killer. But a suit for damages,DAMAGES!with the reading of love-letters before a hilarious jury and court, was against all his instincts. His chivalry was outraged; his sense of humor was small, and in the course of his career he had lost one or two important cases through an unexpected development of this quality in a jury.
The woman had evidently noticed his hesitation, but mistook its cause. It aint mebut my darter.
The Colonel recovered his politeness. Ah! I am relieved, my dear madam! I could hardly conceive a man ignorant enough toererthrow away such evident good fortuneor base enough to deceive the trustfulness of womanhoodmatured and experienced only in the chivalry of our sex, ha!
The woman smiled grimly. Yes!its my darter, Zaidee Hookerso ye might spare some of them pretty speeches for HERbefore the jury.
The Colonel winced slightly before this doubtful prospect, but smiled. Ha! Yes!certainlythe jury. Butermy dear lady, need we go as far as that? Can not this affair be settlederout of court? Could not thiserindividualbe admonishedtold that he must give satisfactionpersonal satisfactionfor his dastardly conducttoernear relativeor even valued personal friend? Theerarrangements necessary for that purpose I myself would undertake.
He was quite sincere; indeed, his small black eyes shone with that fire which a pretty woman or an affair of honor could alone kindle. The visitor stared vacantly at him, and said slowly, And what good is that goin to do US?
Compel him toerperform his promise, said the Colonel, leaning back in his chair.
Ketch him doin it! she exclaimed scornfully. Nothat aint wot were after. We must make him PAY! Damagesand nothin short o THAT.
The Colonel bit his lip. I suppose, he said gloomily, you have documentary evidencewritten promises and protestationserer love-letters, in fact?
Nonary a letter! Ye see, thats jest itand thats where YOU come in. Youve got to convince that jury yourself. Youve got to show what it istell the whole story your own way. Lord! to a man like you thats nothin.
Startling as this admission might have been to any other lawyer, Starbottle was absolutely relieved by it. The absence of any mirth-provoking correspondence, and the appeal solely to his own powers of persuasion, actually struck his fancy. He lightly put aside the compliment with a wave of his white hand.
Of course, he said confidently, there is strongly presumptive and corroborative evidence? Perhaps you can give meera brief outline of the affair?
Zaidee kin do that straight enough, I reckon, said the woman; what I want to know first is, kin you take the case?
The Colonel did not hesitate; his curiosity was piqued. I certainly can. I have no doubt your daughter will put me in possession of sufficient facts and detailsto constitute what we callera brief.
She kin be brief enoughor long enoughfor the matter of that, said the woman, rising. The Colonel accepted this implied witticism with a smile.
And when may I have the pleasure of seeing her? he asked politely.
Well, I reckon as soon as I can trot out and call her. Shes just outside, meanderin in the roadkinder shy, ye know, at first.
She walked to the door. The astounded Colonel nevertheless gallantly accompanied her as she stepped out into the street and called shrilly, You Zaidee!
A young girl here apparently detached herself from a tree and the ostentatious perusal of an old election poster, and sauntered down towards the office door. Like her mother, she was plainly dressed; unlike her, she had a pale, rather refined face, with a demure mouth and downcast eyes. This was all the Colonel saw as he bowed profoundly and led the way into his office, for she accepted his salutations without lifting her head. He helped her gallantly to a chair, on which she seated herself sideways, somewhat ceremoniously, with her eyes following the point of her parasol as she traced a pattern on the carpet. A second chair offered to the mother that lady, however, declined. I reckon to leave you and Zaidee together to talk it out, she said; turning to her daughter, she added, Jest you tell him all, Zaidee, and before the Colonel could rise again, disappeared from the room. In spite of his professional experience, Starbottle was for a moment embarrassed. The young girl, however, broke the silence without looking up.
Adoniram K. Hotchkiss, she began, in a monotonous voice, as if it were a recitation addressed to the public, first began to take notice of me a year ago. Arter thatoff and on
One moment, interrupted the astounded Colonel; do you mean Hotchkiss the President of the Ditch Company? He had recognized the name of a prominent citizena rigid, ascetic, taciturn, middle-aged mana deaconand more than that, the head of the company he had just defended. It seemed inconceivable.
Thats him, she continued, with eyes still fixed on the parasol and without changing her monotonous toneoff and on ever since. Most of the time at the Free-Will Baptist Churchat morning service, prayer-meetings, and such. And at homeoutsideerin the road.
Is it this gentlemanMr. Adoniram K. Hotchkisswhoerpromised marriage? stammered the Colonel.
Yes.
The Colonel shifted uneasily in his chair. Most extraordinary! foryou seemy dear young ladythis becomesaermost delicate affair.
Thats what maw said, returned the young woman simply, yet with the faintest smile playing around her demure lips and downcast cheek.
I mean, said the Colonel, with a pained yet courteous smile, that thisergentlemanis in facterone of my clients.
Thats what maw said too, and of course your knowing him will make it all the easier for you.
A slight flush crossed the Colonels cheek as he returned quickly and a little stiffly, On the contraryerit may make it impossible for me toeract in this matter.
The girl lifted her eyes. The Colonel held his breath as the long lashes were raised to his level. Even to an ordinary observer that sudden revelation of her eyes seemed to transform her face with subtle witchery. They were large, brown, and soft, yet filled with an extraordinary penetration and prescience. They were the eyes of an experienced woman of thirty fixed in the face of a child. What else the Colonel saw there Heaven only knows! He felt his inmost secrets plucked from himhis whole soul laid barehis vanity, belligerency, gallantryeven his mediaeval chivalry, penetrated, and yet illuminated, in that single glance. And when the eyelids fell again, he felt that a greater part of himself had been swallowed up in them.
I beg your pardon, he said hurriedly. I meanthis matter may be arrangederamicably. My interest withand as you wisely saymyerknowledge of my clienterMr. Hotchkissmay effecta compromise.